NYSC SETS DATE FOR FOREIGN-TRAINED GRADUATES’ PHYSICAL VERIFICATION

 The National Youth Service Corps has announced nine centres for the physical verification of credentials and travel documents of foreign-trained Nigerian graduates for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream I service year.

In a post on its X handle on Thursday, NYSC said the verification exercise is scheduled to hold from Tuesday, September 8, to Saturday, September 12, 2026, for prospective corps members whose credentials and travel documents are yet to be physically verified.

The NYSC urged affected prospective corps members to report strictly on the date, time and venue indicated on their verification slips to ensure orderliness and avoid overcrowding.

The nine verification centres are located in Enugu, Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto and Adamawa.

The centres are:

Enugu: NYSC Secretariat, 2 Abakaliki Road, GRA, Enugu.
Bauchi: Shadawanka Military Barracks, Bauchi.
FCT: NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja.
Kano: Bukavu Military Barracks, Fagge, Airport Road, Kano.
Lagos: NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyanapaja, Lagos.
Osun: NYSC Secretariat, New Ikirun Road, Osogbo.
Rivers: NYSC Secretariat, 40 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.
Sokoto: Eagle Officers’ Mess, Giginya Cantonment, Gusau Road, Sokoto.
Adamawa: NYSC Secretariat, Federal Secretariat Complex, Yola.

According to the NYSC, prospective corps members are required to present all original credentials and travel documents uploaded, or expected to be uploaded, during online registration.

Medical graduates have also been directed to upload their licences, registration certificates and other relevant documents issued by their professional bodies. They are required to present the original copies at the verification centres.

The scheme further directed prospective corps members to submit original copies of Evaluation Letters issued by the Federal Ministry of Education at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja and upload acknowledged copies online.

The NYSC warned that only prospective corps members who are physically seen with their credentials, verified and cleared will be deployed, exempted or excluded from national service.

The physical verification is a requirement for eligible foreign-trained Nigerian graduates participating in the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream I service year.

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FAKE AGENCY: REPS PANEL CLEARS GBAJABIAMILA

 The House of Representatives panel has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The House Ad Hoc Committee probing the alleged inclusion of the organisation in the Federal Government’s budget framework said it found no evidence that Gbajabiamila approved, established, or participated in the council’s activities.

The committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the panel’s preliminary findings at a press briefing televised by TVC.

The panel said its investigation showed that Gbajabiamila instead alerted security and investigative agencies after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.

It said the concerns were first raised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities and the alleged misuse of institutional materials.

According to the committee, the Chief of Staff responded within a day by contacting the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

It added that he also directed administrative verification through relevant government institutions.

The panel said Gbajabiamila later sent further communications seeking investigations and appropriate action when additional concerns emerged, including those surrounding a proposed world investment summit.

“The documentary evidence presently before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation.

“On the contrary, the evidence demonstrates repeated steps to secure investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action,” the committee said.

The committee consequently commended Gbajabiamila, on a preliminary basis, for the security and administrative measures he took whenever the matter was brought to his attention.

The lawmakers also said they established that a letter purportedly appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the organisation was forged and falsely attributed to the Presidency.

The document, which purportedly bore Gbajabiamila’s authority and signature, was not issued or approved by the Presidency, according to the committee.

The panel said State House records showed that Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the appointment letter.

It also found that the letterhead was not an authentic State House letterhead and that its reference number did not conform to the official referencing system.

The panel also rejected documents presented as a Presidential Executive Order and an Act of the National Assembly purportedly establishing the organisation.

According to the committee, the document described as Executive Order No. 5, dated February 24, 2026, was neither issued nor approved through the lawful processes of the Presidency.

It similarly found that the purported Act was never passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, assented to by the President or gazetted as an Act of the Federation.

The committee said part of an instrument belonging to another institution appeared to have been electronically altered, mutilated or substituted to give the impression that the National Assembly had established the organisation.

The lawmakers said their investigation found no valid law, executive order, administrative instrument or other lawful authority establishing an institution known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The committee further said preliminary financial information had linked about 58 bank accounts to identifying details associated with Adeyemi.

The controversy began after the purported PFIPC, allegedly headed by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, appeared in Nigeria’s 2026 Federal Government budget despite questions over its legal existence.

Adeyemi had presented himself as the council’s Director-General and allegedly claimed that he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, while also making allegations involving funds and the council’s operations.

Gbajabiamila denied involvement, prompting wider questions about how the purported agency obtained a budgetary allocation and operated within government structures.

As investigations into the purported council deepened, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission uncovered another alleged fake government agency, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, further raising questions about how purported government bodies could operate without lawful authority.

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11-YEAR-OLD BOY CIRCUMCISED BY SCHOOLMATES IN SOUTH AFRICA

 An 11-year-old boy was allegedly dragged into a school toilet in South Africa and forcibly circumcised by four older pupils, according to a report by the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

The Grade 5 pupil was allegedly attacked during break time at Sinqobile Primary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, by four Grade 7 pupils who held him down and cut off his foreskin.

The Daily Mail reported that the boys threatened the victim against telling anyone about the incident.

The boy reportedly returned home after the attack but did not immediately disclose what had happened.

“He said the other boys pinned him down in the school toilets during break and tied a red ribbon round his penis and cut off his foreskin.

“My son said they were Grade 7 pupils and threatened to beat him up if he dared tell anyone. I have now opened a criminal case,’ she said.

The mother said she had opened a criminal case over the incident.

South African Police Service spokesman, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, said the matter was being investigated as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

“Our family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit are investigating and no arrests have been made at this stage,” Sibeko stated.

The Gauteng Department of Education said the matter was under investigation by the police and that the outcome would determine the action to be taken by the department.

The school’s deputy principal, George Mahlangu, described the incident as disturbing, saying the school was supposed to be a safe environment for children.

The boy was reportedly taken back to the school by police to identify the alleged attackers, while his mother expressed concern about allowing him to return to classes.

The incident comes amid concerns over unsafe circumcision practices associated with some traditional initiation schools in South Africa.

According to the Daily Mail, 43 boys died after undergoing circumcision during a recent initiation season, while illegal initiation schools have also been linked to serious injuries and deaths.

South Africa’s traditional initiation practice, known as Ulwaluko, is a rite of passage into manhood among some communities. While legally recognised initiation schools operate under regulations, illegal operations have been associated with untrained practitioners and unsafe circumcision procedures.

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2027: ATIKU PROMISES TO RETURN FUEL SUBSIDY IF ELECTED PRESIDENT

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has made the restoration of petrol subsidy a major part of his 2027 campaign pitch, arguing that Nigerians have not seen sufficient benefits from the policy’s removal.

Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, Atiku questioned the whereabouts of funds generated following the decision by President Bola Tinubu to end the petrol subsidy in May 2023.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it.”

His declaration comes just as the Federal Government has provided a 

fresh

 estimate of the financial gains from the subsidy reform. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said on Wednesday that the removal of the subsidy generated N15.8 trillion in resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele said the figure reflected increased revenue mobilisation, including the effect of the naira value of dollar-denominated transactions following the government’s exchange-rate reforms.

Atiku has disputed the government’s presentation of the gains from the reforms. In a separate statement on Wednesday, his camp challenged the Tinubu administration to account for approximately N30 trillion in federation revenues, deductions, savings and transfers which it said required transparent reconciliation.

The former vice-president argued that the resources released by subsidy removal should have produced more visible improvements in Nigerians’ lives, particularly in security, education, infrastructure and employment.

“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different. If elected, I can remove the subsidy and use the money to do all these properly.”

The subsidy removal remains one of the most consequential economic decisions of the Tinubu administration. Its immediate aftermath saw petrol prices rise sharply, with knock-on effects on transportation, food prices and the broader cost of living.

At the same time, the policy has increased monthly allocations to the three tiers of government through the Federation Account, with some state governors acknowledging substantial increases in their FAAC receipts.

Atiku’s latest pledge represents a significant shift from his position during the 2023 presidential campaign. In December 2022, while running as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, he had said he would remove the fuel subsidy within his first 100 days in office.

His new position places the subsidy question firmly back at the centre of the 2027 political contest, with opposition candidates increasingly presenting alternative approaches to the economic reforms introduced under Tinubu.

Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate, has also pledged to restore petrol subsidy if elected, arguing earlier this month that the government was still subsidising petrol and the naira despite declaring an end to the subsidy regime.

With the 2027 election campaign now taking shape, the competing claims over subsidy savings—and whether those resources have translated into tangible benefits for Nigerians—are likely to become a major issue in the contest between the government and opposition.

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TINUBU MOVES EFCC RECOVERIES, N242BN UNCLAIMED DIVIDENDS TO NELFUND

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed that all liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, along with unclaimed dividends from the Capital Market Trust Fund and the Dormant Account Trust Fund, be diverted to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to guarantee its long-term financial sustainability.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The meeting is the council’s first sitting since June 29.

Alausa said, “The President has now directed that all funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission be diverted to NELFUND to continue to support its funding.

“This was also approved by FEC: that all unclaimed dividends from the Capital Market Trust Fund and the Dormant Account Trust Fund should also be directed to NELFUND, so that NELFUND will be financially buoyant to meet its growing obligations today.

“Note, and the President was very clear, not seized properties, or recovered looted funds, but liquid funds, from the EFCC will now be transferred to NELFUND.”

Unclaimed dividends in Nigeria currently stand at approximately N242bn, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, having grown steadily from about N158.4bn in 2019 to N190bn in 2023 due to outdated shareholder records, unresolved estate matters for deceased investors, and missing bank account linkages, among other factors.

The EFCC has separately recovered over N566bn and $411m in monetary assets over the years, though Alausa clarified that Wednesday’s directive applies strictly to cash recoveries and excludes seized properties or other non-liquid assets.

Alausa argued that Tinubu had fulfilled his campaign commitment with the establishment of the fund as he disclosed that the Fund has benefitted over 1.2 million Nigerian students.

He said, “Today, we have over 1.2 million Nigerian students benefiting from NELFUND, and NELFUND has disbursed over N93bn as stipends to students all across public institutions in the country, both federal and state.

“NELFUND has also disbursed over N250bn as institutional fees to all public institutions across the country, both federal and state.

“This has been a phenomenal blessing to Nigeria and to every Nigerian child. We thank the President for that.”

Alausa noted that the President had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to work with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and the Debt Management Office to operationalise the movement of the unclaimed dividend funds.

“That will work, and look at the existing Act that set up these two trust funds on how we can move the money legally to NELFUND, and also work with the chairman of the EFCC to look at the entire basket of recovered funds.

“The President was very clear: not seized properties, or recovered looted properties, but liquid funds recovered by the EFCC will now be transferred to NELFUND,” he said.

He added that any funds still subject to ongoing legal challenges would be excluded from the transfer.

“Every single fund that is still subject to a legal challenge will not be part of the money that will be transferred to NELFUND.

“The funds that will be transferred will be all cleared funds, unencumbered funds, looted funds that legally belong to Nigerians,” Alausa said.

The minister also announced that the council approved the deployment of an Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification Programme across 14 federal universities, describing it as a technology-driven initiative designed to equip students with entrepreneurship, innovation, business incubation and enterprise development skills, alongside digital learning certification, mentorship and incubation support.

“This programme will kick off in 14 federal universities this year, and we hope to expand it to all other tertiary institutions.

“It’s a programme that has been tested at the University of Lagos.

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DON’T SEARCH CORPS MEMBERS PHONES INDISCRIMINATELY, KWARA CP WARNS OFFICERS

 The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has warned police officers against indiscriminately searching the mobile phones of National Youth Service Corps members under the guise of checking for involvement in internet fraud..

Adekimi gave the warning during a working visit to corps members undergoing the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course in Kwara State, where he also assured them of adequate security throughout their service year.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state capital.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police was received at the NYSC Orientation Camp by the state Coordinator, Musa Kafarda, who commended the police boss for his commitment to the security and welfare of corps members deployed to the state.

Adekimi also reminded the corps members of their responsibilities as young Nigerians, describing them as important agents of positive change who should make meaningful contributions to their host communities during their service year.

He urged them to use social media responsibly and avoid digital thuggery and other activities capable of undermining peace and public order.

“You are leaders of today and possess enormous potential to contribute positively to national development.

“Make your service year meaningful, contribute positively to your host communities, use social media responsibly and stay away from digital thuggery and every other activity capable of undermining peace,” Adekimi advised.

The police commissioner, however, assured the corps members that they were entitled to be treated with dignity and respect in their dealings with police personnel.

“No police officer should indiscriminately search through the mobile phones of corps members on the road under the guise of checking whether they are involved in internet fraud,” Adekimi said.

He encouraged any corps member who encounters inappropriate conduct by police personnel or has a security concern to report through the command’s dedicated channels or approach the nearest police formation for assistance.

The statement quoted him as asking the corps members to see the police as partners throughout their service year and to freely share credible information that could help security agencies protect them and their host communities.

“Do not hesitate to report any security concern or inappropriate conduct through the Command’s dedicated channels or approach the nearest Police formation for prompt assistance,” the CP said.

Adekimi also commended the Camp Commandant and other security personnel for their efforts in maintaining what he described as a safe and conducive environment for the corps members.

He wished the prospective corps members a productive orientation exercise and a rewarding service year, urging them to leave positive footprints in the communities where they would eventually be posted across the state.

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